Joline's Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page A

his own physical desires to overrule good business sense. Sapphire would pay dearly for runnin’ off.
    When she’d first discovered what he had planned for her, she tried to escape over and over. He rubbed the back of his neck, hating that it had taken several beatings to teach her a lesson. He leaned back in his chair, smiling. Jo had finally accepted her plight and agreed to become Sapphire. But he had still coddled her because he fancied her—but no more.
    He didn’t like beating her, and he’d never wanted to break her spirit. One side of his mouth cocked up. It looked as if he hadn’t. She’d simply been playing along and biding her time. If he hadn’t pushed her to get rid of the boy, she’d still be here, but people had been talking. Saying he was getting soft. He had to get rid of that kid or people would think he was weak.
    If people learned Jo held a place in his heart, they would use it against him. He cursed. His mistake was letting her keep the baby in the first place, but when she turned those tearful blue eyes on him, he was putty in her hands.
    But no more.
    He needed to find her and show her who was boss. She’d taken Sarah—and stolen his horse. That was still a hangin’ offense in these parts.

    After watering the horse, Sarah led him to a patch of grass near where Sapphire tended her son and secured him to a sapling so he could graze. She checked the saddle, anxious to start riding again. Every minute they weren’t on the move was a minute that Badger was probably closing in on them. He would come, she was certain.
    With the horse tended to, she grabbed a fallen tree branch and walked back the way they’d traveled until she reached a fork in the trail. Using the branch, she blended the horse’s tracks into the dirt until there was no sign they had come this way. If anyone was following, they’d have to check both trails, and that would give Jo and her more time to get away.
    And she had to get away. Badger was a hard man most times, although he had treated her fairly well since he took her from her dying mother, but she didn’t know if he would continue to do so. Though only twelve, she was starting to fill out, becoming a woman. How long before he forced her to move upstairs and earn her keep in that horrible way the other ladies did?
    She shuddered at the thought. Many times she had considered slipping away while the others slept, but being so young and half-Cherokee, she knew getting by on her own would be difficult. Many people still looked down on anyone with native blood, especially half-breeds like her. Her mother had told her that many men thought they could have their way with a woman who carried Indian blood. Was that what had happened to her own mother?
    As she approached Sapphire, the woman spun around. “Sarah, where have you been? I was afraid you’d gotten lost.”
    Pausing, Sarah glanced at the horse, her heartbeat racing. She’d made a careless error. She hadn’t considered that Sapphire could have ridden off without her. She’d have to be more careful in the future, at least until the woman proved that she would keep her word. Bawdy house women weren’t exactly known for being honest. “I hide trail so Badger not find us.”
    Sapphire smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea. I’m so glad you thought of it, but come, we need to be off now that Jamie is satisfied and has a dry diaper.”
    Her stomach rumbled, but she wouldn’t complain. She just wished that she’d been able to collect some food before they left, but going back into the house was too risky.
    â€œCould you tie Jamie on me like you did before?”
    She nodded and attended to the task then watered the horse again. Mounting was harder without a stump to climb on, but they managed. Back on the horse, Sarah held lightly to her companion’s hips. “It is good you wore calico, Sapphire.”
    She